Free Traffic Legal Advice

Good day all,

At 00:36 on 6-10-2024, I dropped a friend at the Wyken, Coventry, spent about 16 minutes and left. I later received a PCN (attached below) from Smart Parking on 05-11-2026. I later called to explain that I only stayed for about 15 minutes and should not be penalised, but they wouldn't listen. They later passed it to Debt Recovery Plus, who chased for a while and I called to let them know that I was only in the premise for about 16 minutes.

https://ibb.co/JRWmvZvy
https://ibb.co/Kx0FszZ5

Recently, I got some letter from DCB legal, which I ignored, only for me to receive a claim form issued on 15-06-2026 (as attached) for £272.48. with DCB legal as the claimant. I have got a limited time to reply. Kindly help out in addressing this. Please treat as urgent so that I do not receive automatic judgement for failure to respond.

Thanks in anticipation of your help.

Kind regards,

No, I never did precisely.

So you've told them who the driver was?

I just told them that as indicated on the PCN that the Car was there for about 16 minutes. I never mention who was the driver to them.
Modify message

You have to respond by 3 February with a defence, or Acknowledgment of Service, in the latter case this will guve you until 17 February to file a defence.

Ok. Please, how do I respond?

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c45e568ed915d38a0611a61/n9-eng.pdf

Thanks so much. I have filed the AOS. Please what next should I do? Thanks for your help in advance.

You have to respond by 3 February with a defence, or Acknowledgment of Service, in the latter case this will give you until 17 February to file a defence.

Under your “treat as urgent” I would suggest the latter which removes your self-imposed urgency.

Thanks for this.

Please help me. I have submitted AOS and I have to file my defence. I am not sure how many days I have left to file my defence and I don't know what I need to include in my defence. Please help me.

Thanks

There's a std defence in this thread:  https://www.ftla.uk/private-parking-tickets/help-needed-with-filling-the-court-form/

Just check that it is all applicable to your case.